News

The Friends of the Gates Public Library is looking to recruit a member of the community who would be willing to serve as the Friends of the Gates Public Library Secretary. No secretarial experience is needed!

Job Duties Include

Taking brief notes on topics discussed at the Friends of the Library meetings which occur at 6:00 PM on the second Wednesday of the Month, nine months our of the year.

Filing meeting notes in a designated filing cabinet in the library.

Occasionally offering your opinion on how the Friends of the Library's fundraising efforts can be adapted or improved.

Occasionally helping to promote the Friends of the Library's three annual book sales.

The Friends of the Gates Public Library is an all volunteer, non-profit organization that supports the library's mission to provide educational and recreational materials and technologies to be of all ages in our community. Each year the Friends of the Gates Public Library raise over $20,000 dollars to support the Gates Public Library.

There is no financial obligation on your part beyond the $5.00 membership fee. The Friends of the Gates Public Library is a fun, and easy going group of passionate readers and library users. Interested individuals should contact Greg Benoit, Library Director at (585) 429-8298 or gbenoit@libraryweb.org if you have any questions, or would like to apply!

Each month the Chamber of Commerce arranges education seminars and luncheons on wide ranging topics from local economic development efforts, new businesses moving into the Gates and Chili communities, local and state government initiatives, workforce development, career mentorship lectures, emerging educational trends in secondary schools and academia, ribbon cuttings for newly opened businesses, as well as many other commerce and community related topics.

As a member of our community, you are welcome to attend any and all of these events. Please consider signing up for the free Gates Chili Chamber of Commerce email newsletter to stay current with all of these exciting developments that are impacting and improving the quality of life in our town.

This year's summer reading program theme is Building a Better World. We are again running segments for children, teens, and adults that run from June 26th to August 5th. For the first time we are also running a collaborative program between all age levels.

Children participate by reading at least ten minutes each day. As they read, they can move their construction worker around a game board, collect bricks to add around a door in the children's room, and win prizes.

Teens and adults will have the opportunity to enter raffles as they read and listen to audiobooks.

Based on the number of books read by all three age groups, we will use sponsored donations to give money to four different charities that support the efforts to Build a Better World. The charities that have chosen are: Doctors without Borders; Water for South Sudan; Society for the Protection and Care of Children, and the Verona Street Animal Society.

The four levels of sponsorship are $250, $500, $750, and $1,000. Our sponsors and readers will be acknowledged at the August 18th Family Drive-In Movie.

We are excited to announce Hoopla Digital: a new digital media streaming service, through which you may enjoy: movies, TV show,music albums, downloadable audiobooks , ebooks, comics, and graphic novels.

Available on your computer, tablet or Smartphone! On a mobile device, content may be temporarily downloaded and accessed offline or, in either the app or on a computer, all borrowed content may be enjoyed while connected to the internet by streaming.

As a Gates Public Library resident, you may borrow up to four titles per month. To register Hoopla Digital for free, please download the Hoopla Digital app from the Apple Appstore or Google Play. On a computer, you may visit hoopladigital.com and select the Gates Public Library.

In May 2015, WestSide Express, a volunteer transportation service for seniors was launched in the Gates and Chili communities. This ambitious, and much needed initiative was coordinated by Lifespan in partnership with The Chili Senior Center, Chili Public Library, Gates Public Library, Gates Recreation, Dunn Tower, and more than half a dozen churches including Trinity Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Parkminster Church, St. Christopher's Church, St. Theodore Church, and the churches in the Gates Catholic Community. This program pairs volunteer drivers with seniors who need rides to important appointments.

It's been a highly successful and very busy two years, but we always need more help. In recent years, the Gates-Chili Community has seen an increase in seniors who are finding themselves unable to drive due to poor health or financial constraints. Having reliable transportation to medical appointments, the grocery store, and other essential commitments helps seniors maintain their health as well as their quality of life.

Can you help? If you have a couple of hours a week, or even a couple of hours a month, please consider being a volunteer driver. When you give a ride to a medical appointment or to the pharmacy, you are helping your neighbors live happier, healthier lives in their own homes. You can select your geographic area and the times you wish to drive. You will be provided training, and supplemental liability insurance. To learn more about becoming a volunteer driver, call Sr. Anne Guerin at 244-8400, ext. 142, or by email.

Not interested in driving? WestSide Express also has a need for volunteers to answer phones to help coordinate drivers with clients. This can be as many or as few hours as you wish to commit. For more information on how to help in this way, please contact Robert Jackson at 889-1615 or by email.

The Monroe County Library System has a new mobile app! MCLS TO GO replaces our previous mobile app. MCLS TO GO is available in the Apple Appstore and Google Play now. If you have the old MCLS Mobile app installed on your phone, you will need to delete it and replace it with the new MCLS TO GO app.

Opening the MCLS TO GO app takes you to a landing page where you can search the catalog, download digital content, find library hours and locations, and see events at libraries throughout Monroe County.

The MCLS TO GO app also provides you access to your account and a digital copy of your library card that you can use when you check out items.

While you’re in your account you can check on the status of your holds, view what you have checked out and renew items, manage your saved lists, and pay overdue fines.

The MCLS TO GO app is a work in progress. Future enhancements will include personalized reading recommendations, the ability to filter and sort search results, and access to saved searches, title ratings, and reviews.

$50 First Prizes and $25 Runner-Up Prizes.

A special $25 Prize will be awarded for a poem based on a Gates theme.

The Friends of the Gates Public Library is sponsoring a poetry contest open to all students attending Gates schools, or Gates students attending schools elsewhere. The contest prizes will be awarded in three divisions:

Kindergarten - 5th Grade

Middle School

High School

Poems may be written in any style, rhymed or unrhymed. Maximum length: 25 lines. Entries are due by April 5, 2017. They must be accompanied by the entrant's name, address, phone number, school attended and grade. Students may submit up to two poems.

The winners will be announced at the Friends Annual Meeting on May 18, 2017. The Gates Public Library will close early on that day so that the awards can be given out in the library atrium on the main floor. The contest is named after Elizabeth Hinchey, the wife of Franklin Hinchey and a multi-talented woman who wrote poetry. Entries should be mailed to:

Friends Poetry ContestGates Public Library902 Elmgrove RoadRochester, New York 14624

What do you do at the Gates Public Library?

I'll be working to enhance and expand library programming for adults while pursuing to further develop community partnerships.

What book has changed your life and how?

"Ten Stupid Things Women Do To Mess Up Their Lives," by Laura C. Schlessinger. I randomly pulled this book off the shelf and 256 pages later I learned to take full responsibility of my life. She keeps it real and I like that.

What book made the biggest impact on you as a child?

"Matilda," by Roald Dahl. I'm the youngest of 4 children and grew up with very strict parents. Her practical jokes and inner resources helped me through many of my own annoyances.

You wake up to find your house is burning down. You only have time to save one object. What is it?

My fiance - he isn't actually an object but everything else can be replaced.

What is your spirit guide animal?

Apparently the owl.

All of the titles under "Staff Recommendations" were selected by Anna.

Gates Public Library has a new Job Search Center dedicated to helping individuals find their next job. Our patrons can have extended time to fill out applications, complete a resume, take a test, or search for employment opportunities. Nearby are the shelves with resources that have web addresses for job posting sites, and workforce development training. Civil service test preparation materials, and job search guides are also located in this area. One-on-one assistance is always available from a librarian.